The Long-Awaited Divorce

Sure enough, not long after I got home, my phone rang.

It was Brad.

And he was furious.

"Lauren, I had no idea you were this vicious," he shouted. "What the hell did you say to Vanessa? She won't stop crying. She won't even talk to me."

I put on my most innocent voice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. We ran into each other at the spa. We had a perfectly nice conversation. I did notice she's pregnant, though. That's disgusting—who would get a depressed woman pregnant?

"No wonder she's having another episode. She must be with some real scumbag. I feel bad for that baby."

Brad went silent for a second. Then his voice turned ice cold.

"That's none of your business. But after today, I need to rethink things between us. You have zero sympathy for a pregnant woman. I'm honestly disgusted. Maybe we should reconsider whether remarriage is even a good idea."

I almost laughed at the sheer audacity.

But I kept up the act.

"Please, Brad, no! You know I have nothing without you. You can't abandon me. You're right—it was my fault. I'll apologize to Vanessa. I'll do whatever it takes."

His tone shifted. Now, he sounded like he was doing me a favor.

"If you're really sorry, Vanessa isn't unreasonable. You know that jewelry set we bought for our wedding? The gold pieces? She's always been jealous of it. Give them to her as an apology. I'll put in a good word for you. Then we can forget this ever happened."

I couldn't believe it.

After everything we'd been through. Years of marriage. And he was still trying to squeeze the last drops out of me.

In his mind, my trust—my unconditional, foolish trust—was never love.

It was a weapon. Something for him to use. To twist. To stomp on.

When I first found out about the affair and the money he'd been hiding, I kept asking myself, 'When did he turn so rotten? How did I not see it sooner?'

Now I know the truth.

He was always rotten. I was just too blinded by what I thought was love to ever really see him.

My body shook. I was livid.

But my voice stayed steady.

"Okay, Brad. Whatever you say. I'll bring it over tomorrow."

Because the show must go on.

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